The Latest: White House to seek big boost in defense dollars

Host President Donald Trump, makes a toast during a dinner reception for the annual National Governors Association winter meeting Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the State Dining Room of the White House, in Washington. The White House is preparing to propose boosting defense spending and slashing funding for longtime Republican targets like the Environmental Protection Agency.

Republicans divided on Russia probe, calls for special prosecutor over AG Sessions

Republicans are increasingly divided over whether members of Donald Trump's presidential campaign made illegal contact with Russia and if a special prosecutor should be appointed over Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate allegations. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told "Fox News Sunday" that he has confidence in Sessions, a Trump campaign supporter and former Alabama senator, and his judgment.

White House dodging questions of Sessions’ role in FBI probe

The White House is dodging questions about whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions should consider withdrawing from the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. A prominent Republican, California Rep. Darrell Issa, has called for a special prosecutor and said it would be improper for Sessions to lead the investigation as the nation's chief law enforcement official.

GOP congressman: Special prosecutor needed for Russia probe

Congressman Darrell Issa speaks with members of the media following his speech during the California Republican Party's 2017 Organizing Convention in Sacramento, CA, on Saturday February 25, 2017. WASHINGTON - A Republican congressman has called for a special prosecutor to investigate whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and was in touch with President Donald Trump 's team during the campaign.

Darrell Issa tells Bill Maher he’s open to a special prosecutor …

"We need an independent prosecutor," Maher said, responding to the California Republican's call for "the intelligence committees of the House and Senate to investigate within the special areas they can see." Maher continued: "And Jeff Sessions should recuse himself, the same way Loretta Lynch recused herself, because he was part of the Trump campaign."

House probe into Russia’s ties to Trump reveals dispute among committee leaders

A simmering dispute between leaders of the House intelligence committee spilled into the public Monday over an investigation into whether President Donald Trump has ties to Russia, even as they pledged to conduct a bipartisan probe. The Republican committee chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, said he has heard no evidence so far that anyone in Trump's orbit was in contact with Russians during the presidential campaign.

The fight’s on in 4 California districts where Republicans…

There are 538 congressional districts nationally, but only a few of them are mixed - with a House member of one party representing voters who picked a different party for president. And one strain of mixed congressional district - with GOP representatives of voters who wanted Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, in the White House - is particularly rare, with just 22 examples.

California Cubans Celebrate Fidel Castro’s Deatha

Cuban-Americans in Southern California were overjoyed at the news of Fidel Castro's death on Friday, as the dictator who clung to power for decades and drove many to flee to the United States finally passed. "Throughout Southern California on Saturday, Cuban-Americans hoisted glasses of champagne and waved Cuban and American flags in celebration of Castro's death," the Orange County Register reported .

Zoe Lofgren

A bill intended to close loopholes in the H-1B visa program , introduced by Representative Darrell Issa and co-sponsored by the rest of the San Diego delegation, is facing opposition and a committee vote has been delayed. The Protect and Grow American Jobs Act , as the bill is known, was touted for its bipartisan support.

Clinton Expected To Cruise In California, So Who Will Vote?

CBS2 / KCAL9 CBS2/KCAL9 is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corp. and one of the largest network-owned station groups in the country. CBS Studio City Broadcast Center 4200 Radford Avenue Studio City, CA [] LOS ANGELES - Republicans and Democrats in California are struggling to keep voters motivated in advance of Election Day, but for different reasons.

At-risk Republicans revel in FBI’s Clinton email announcement

Vulnerable down-ballot Republican candidates seized on the news Friday that the FBI was reviewing new emails tied to the investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private server, arguing the GOP must remain in charge of Congress so they can keep check on a potential Clinton presidency. "This decision shows exactly why we need strong watchdogs in Congress to ensure thorough oversight of the executive branch," said veteran Republican Rep. Darrell Issa.

Obama increasingly looks to boost down-ballot Democrats

Entering the last two weeks of the campaign, President Barack Obama is putting more emphasis on helping Democrats in close Senate and House races with a strategy that ties their Republican opponents to Donald Trump - regardless of whether they support the GOP nominee. With Hillary Clinton leading in the polls, Obama said Monday that Republicans are arguing they need to provide a check on her agenda in Congress.

Pentagon Forcing Vets To Repay Reenlistment Bonuses

In the first of what could be the start of what could be a national public relations nightmare, California lawmakers from both sides of the aisle piled on the Pentagon after reports it is forcing vets to repay enlistment bonuses improperly paid to thousands of National Guard soldiers a decade ago. Nearly 10,000 California National Guard soldiers have been ordered to repay huge enlistment bonuses a decade after signing up to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, a newspaper reported Saturday.

Obama To Campaign For Clinton, Attend Beverly Hills Fundraiser In SoCal Swing

CBS2 / KCAL9 CBS2/KCAL9 is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corp. and one of the largest network-owned station groups in the country. CBS Studio City Broadcast Center 4200 Radford Avenue Studio City, CA [...] LOS ANGELES -President Barack Obama kicked off a roughly 23-hour swing through the Southland Monday that will include appearances at a pair of fundraisers, a late-night TV appearance, and the usual traffic nightmare.